Fletchers Solicitors Calls for Urgent Review into Professor Ian Brown’s Oncology Treatment of Patients

Updated August 18th 2025:

Fletchers Solicitors’ Group Action Team is deeply concerned about the treatment of patients under the care of Professor Ian Brown, following recent reports of unnecessary chemotherapy treatment on his patients. Our team is currently representing former patients of Professor Brown and fear that this issue may be more widespread than initially believed.

Professor Brown’s recent retirement has led to a number of cases coming to light, raising serious concerns about the long-term treatment provided to his patients. We are aware of numerous instances where individuals have undergone potentially harmful and unnecessary medical interventions, and we believe that many more cases may yet emerge.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) has acknowledged that a patient was treated with temozolomide for far longer than the NHS guidelines recommend, with the drug having been administered for over a decade rather than the maximum six-month period advised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). This prolonged exposure to chemotherapy has placed patients at risk of severe side effects, including secondary cancers, chronic liver issues, and significant deterioration in quality of life.

Francesca Paul, Partner in the Group Actions team at Fletchers Solicitors, commented:

“We have been approached to help former patients of Professor Brown who have told us that they received unnecessary and potentially harmful treatment that was not required. We believe that this is just a small percentage of those affected and that there may be many more individuals who are yet to come forward.

We call on University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust to complete their review swiftly and ensure that all patients under Professor Brown’s care are reassessed and placed on the correct treatment plan. It is crucial that steps are taken to ensure that no further harm is inflicted on those affected.”

August 2025 update:

Since our initial call for urgent action, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) has now announced that it has commissioned a full independent review into Professor Brown’s treatment of patients.

In a statement to Coventry Live, the Trust confirmed:

“We have comprehensively reviewed and spoken to all individuals who were receiving TMZ treatment at the end of 2023 to ensure appropriate support and care plans are in place. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recognise that clinicians can exercise professional judgement appropriate to individual circumstances when offering treatment to patients.

We have commissioned the Royal College of Physicians to conduct an independent review of a representative cohort of patients who received greater than 12 cycles of adjuvant TMZ between 2017 and 2023. As this process is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”

Francesca Paul commented in August 2025:

“We welcome the decision to commission a fully independent review of Professor Brown’s treatment of patients. However, this must not delay providing answers and appropriate care for those affected.

We continue to hear from patients who received unnecessary and potentially harmful treatment that may not have been clinically justified. We believe the number of people impacted could be far higher than currently identified, and we urge anyone with concerns to come forward.”

Fletchers Solicitors urges any individuals who believe they may have been impacted by Professor Brown’s treatment to come forward. The firm remains committed to securing justice for those affected and holding the responsible parties accountable for any medical negligence that has occurred.

We will continue to monitor developments in this case and push for full transparency from the NHS Trust as the internal review progresses. This situation highlights the need for swift action to protect patients and ensure that past failings are not repeated. You can email Francesca if you would like advice on the legal claim [email protected]